Looking for a family-friendly organized ride? Check out the Edible Pedal 100™.

The 2013 Edible Pedal is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 15

A guest post by Jill Stockton

If you are interested in trying something new as summer winds down, why not consider registering for the Edible Pedal 100™? The event takes place on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Bower’s Mansion in Washoe Valley.

This scenic ride offers participants three routes: a leisurely 10-mile ride through picturesque Washoe Valley, which is great for families interested in experiencing an organized ride; a respectable 50-mile course, climbing 2,800 vertical feet, which includes scenic country roads through rustic western towns; and a serious 100-mile ride, climbing 6,600 vertical feet, which includes a lung-searing, thigh-burning climb up Kingsbury Grade from Carson Valley to Lake Tahoe. Ride stops include Carson City, Genoa and Gardnerville.

Ok, maybe riding 50 or 100 miles seems like a lot to manage as a family, but that’s where the Edible Pedal 100™ 10-mile family-friendly ride comes in to play. All you need to participate is a bike with a child seat attached for the little one, or a bike trailer to tow them. If your children are older and can ride their own bike, they can ride along side you! Children under five ride for free and children between six and 10 can participate for $25. The cost for adults to participate in the 10-mile ride is $45. Want to register? Surf on over to the Edible Pedal 100 website and sign-up today!

What makes this organized ride even better is there’s a wonderful family-friendly barbeque for participants after the event at historic Bowers Mansion. After your ride you can even take a tour of the Mansion.

EdibleReno-Tahoe magazine sources food and drink from farmers, ranchers, vintners, brewers, bakers and other food artisans within our food shed. Ride participants will savor this mouth-watering local food at the post-ride barbecue. As a mom concerned about where my family’s food comes from, I love how this event supports and showcases local food producers from the region. It’s a key component to making this event so special.

Finally, if spending time with your family, eating good food and touring stately Bowers Mansion to see what Nevada life was like in the 1860s wasn’t enough to convince you to participate, the Edible Pedal 100™ is also a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Reno Sunrise.

Proceeds raised are given back to the Northern Nevada community. A few months ago in May, the event donated more than $6,000 to seven Washoe County high school students and one University of Nevada, Reno student studying agriculture or the culinary arts. Scholarships awarded were granted to the Washoe County Academy of Art, Careers and Technology, Hug High School, Reno High School, Carson City High School, Douglas High School and the University of Nevada, Reno chapter of Sigma Nu. Think about it, this scholarship could go to your kid in the future!

To sweeten the deal, much of the produce that will be served at the 2013 post-ride barbecue is donated to the Edible Pedal 100™ from the gardens of some of these outstanding high school students. How cool is that? You and your family will likely get to meet the student who grew the tomatoes that accompany the meal you’ll eat at the barbecue!